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Presentations

Do you want to practise your presentation skills but not sure where to start?  Take a look at these suggestions for how to choose a topic, find an audience, and reflect on how it went.

Choose a Topic

You may already have an upcoming presentation to deliver which you can use for practise.  If not, why not use one of these topics?

  • Your favourite hobby - what is it, why do you enjoy it, and why would you encourage others to give it a go?
  • The last book that you read - how would you summarise it, what did you think of it, and would you recommend it?
  • An academic article that caught your interest - what was the argument presented, what were its strengths, what were its weaknesses?

Find an Audience

Firstly, consider if you want to practise in front of someone else or if you want to practise on your own.  You may decide to practise on your own first, before practising again in front of someone else.

If you are practising on your own, a top tip is to find a way to record your presentation.  You could record a video on your 'phone or on your computer, or if you are able to access our Kedleston Road library you can book one of the Create Pods to use - click here for more information.

Microsoft PowerPoint has a feature called Rehearse with Coach which will give you feedback on a wide variety of topics including pace, monotone, filler words, originality and inclusiveness.  You can find the Microsoft support article on this feature by clicking here.

If you would like to practise in front of someone else, think carefully about who you might ask.  Some of the following factors may be important to you:

  • Do you trust the person to provide honest feedback, both good and bad?
  • Do you think the person will give you constructive feedback that helps you improve?
  • Does the person have an existing understanding of the topic? (this may be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on your circumstance)

Prepare your Audience

Before you begin your presentation, have a think about what aspects you would particularly like to work on and let your audience know.  This will give your audience guidance about what to focus on as you present, and a structure to how they provide you with feedback.  This applies whether the audience is someone else, or yourself when you play back your recording.

Aspects to consider could include:

  • Is the main argument of your presentation, or the point you are trying to make, clear?
  • Is your argument backed up by evidence?
  • If you have used visual aids, do they add value to the information you are providing?
  • Does your presentation have a good structure?  Do the sections follow logically on from one another?
  • Is the presentation well referenced?
  • If you are using technology, does it work as expected?
  • Does the technology you are using add value to the presentation?

Reflect on your Presentation

Whether you have practised in front of an audience or on your own, it is important that you gather feedback on your presentation and create a plan for how you will improve.

If you have practised in front of someone else, ask them for their feedback based around the aspects that you identified earlier.  Make notes on what they say so that you have a record.

Remember - you do not have to agree with every piece of feedback that you receive, or make every change that is suggested.  The presentation must be your own work (or the work of your group if it is a group presentation) so make sure that your audience doesn't re-write any aspect of the presentation themselves.  Instead, note the feedback that you have been given so that you can take the time to consider what changes you will make.

If you have practised alone, take the time to watch or listen back to the recording, making notes as you go.

Once you have your notes you can plan your next steps.  You may find it helpful to make an action plan.  Whilst a personal action plan does not need to follow a set format it is important to be clear what you want to achieve, how you are going to achieve it and when you want to achieve it by.  If you would like to use a more structured approach, we have a reflective action plan available that you can download and complete.